With Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael having affected large parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida (and now with more hurricanes on the way), homeowners and workers are doing their best to inspect, repair, and replace their HVAC systems.

AC repair is in high demand after a hurricane’s terrible damage, especially in the South. Up to two-thirds of all homes have air conditioners, but it’s the South’s raging heat and heavy humidity that make a broken AC unit that much worse. In especially hot regions such as Florida, a busted air conditioning unit can cause life threatening emergencies in nursing homes.

With hurricane season still raging, here are some steps you can take to repair your HVAC system after flooding.

Talk to an electrician first
It’s essential that your home is declared safe to enter by a licensed electrician or qualified emergency responder before you enter your home after a hurricane. This is because, with the flood water so high, electrocution may be a potential danger.

Once your home has been marked safe, have your electrician either disconnect the main electrical panel or shut off power to your HVAC system. Keep your HVAC system turned off until an HVAC repair business has time to inspect the system.

Additionally, mark the high water line on your system if you begin to clean and repair your home. This can help the HVAC repair business or HVAC contractor note which parts of your system were submerged in the water.

Salvaging your HVAC system
One of the most important parts of a home to get rid of after flooding is carpet, drywall, and insulation that’s been saturated with water. The absorbent nature of these items can cause mold growth in the home if not taken care of immediately. Your HVAC system’s disposable filters are included in these absorbent items to get rid of.

If your HVAC system is salvageable, you want to remove the filter before mold spores can develop and then spread through your home once it’s been repaired and turned on again. However, it may be unlikely that your system is salvageable since most HVAC systems have too much water damage after significant flooding. If your appliances did survive the flooding, then a local HVAC repair business should be able to fix the damage.

Unfortunately, significant water damage on your HVAC system can result in refrigerant leaks, carbon monoxide leaks, corrosion, or breakdowns. You’ll also want to have HVAC services investigate the extent of water damage on your duct work. For a professional opinion on the state of your HVAC system, consult a HVAC repair business that can determine the true damage.